Plan to have hot meals for the elderly in Shropshire schools
Thursday 7th October 2010, 11:23AM BST.
SOME ELDERLY people across Shropshire could be sitting next to schoolchildren in the dinner halls of county schools for hot meals under radical new council plans.
A task group has been carrying out a review of the county’s Meals on Wheels service, which provides meals to elderly and vulnerable people.
And in a bid to reduce costs and improve the service, which provides hot and frozen meals, leaders are now suggesting some elderly people could go into schools to enjoy a hot dinner.
Council chiefs have stressed those who are incapacitated will continue to have meals delivered, with the proposed changes freeing up more time for volunteer drivers to spend more time with those who still need a home service.
But Councillor Keith Barrow, Shropshire Council leader, today said the plans could revolutionise the Meals on Wheels Service and also enhance the quality of life of older people.
He said: “There is a new report which is proposing a number of ideas and one of those is that elderly people could have the opportunity, if they wanted to, to have hot meals at schools.
“We are having hot meals at these places anyway and it’s great to have young and old people mixing.
“The issue with Meals on Wheels is not really financial, we were reviewing the service to see how we could do it better and the savings that have been made have been largely down to procurement under a new contract with our supplier.”
The report will be presented to next Wednesday’s meeting of the council’s cabinet, where councillors will be asked to consider the recommendations of the task group.
It says: “The council should undertake a value for money study or similar a more advanced study on frozen meals and hot delivery options that are now available.
“Other issues to be considered include the provision of hot meals and opportunities for intergenerational contact at schools and the use of council vehicles to transport people to meals and socialising opportunities, for example pub lunch clubs at times of lower demand such as the school holidays and weekends.”
By Russell Roberts
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This is nothing new.
When i was at primary school we had one day a week when the pensioners used to come and have dinner with us. I thought it was wonderful.
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Now the economic pressure is on, we’re starting to see what happens when people think about how to save money and come up with smart ideas.
This idea sounds great: not only maximising economies of scale by cooking all meals for young and old in one place, but also creating a stimulating environment for both children and older folk in which to eat them.
Maybe they could think about combining social centres with schools and getting more out of the school bus by using it to ship pensioners around as well as children.
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I think it is ok in some ways but what they dont say is if these people are going to be CRB checked.
What measures are going to be taken to make sure the children and the elderly are both safe and are not at any risk.
Most schools have a buzz in and out of the schools system is this with people going in and out going to jepardise this at all?
Sorry so many questions and no one to turn to and ask them at the moment.
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The nanny state gone mad – first thought is are these people likely to be a danger to the children, not what a great opportunity to teach kids a valuable lesson in respect for their elders and a further potential opportunity maybe for a lesson or too to be structured around some of the pensioners being able to pass on valuable life experience and a sense of social history. Top idea, let’s hope it’s not stuffed by political correctness….
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I totally agree – If I wanted to work in the school my 5 year old is at I would have to have a CRB. Why are people making the assumption all old people are nice?
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At last, some joined up thinking. I don’t think we need to worry about the safety of children or pensioners in this respect, as neither will be left alone with the other- and there is already plenty of lunchime supervision by responsible people.
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I have to agree with L. This is a good idea in some ways but the powers that be may strangulate themselves with their own red tape (CRBs etc)… however, I do think it’s a good idea, maybe the ‘youth of today’ might have a bit more respect for our ageing population if they mix with them on a regular basis.
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How are the elderly meant to reach the school, surely if they are capable of getting to the schools unaided then they are capable of making their own meals? So therefore they are not the ones who use meals on wheels or am I wrong?
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This is a good idea, full stop. Lots of kids don’t have regular contact with elderly people and vice versa and sharing a meal like this will surely benefit both. So why leap straight in with queries about CRB checks, hinting at the dangers of mixing generations?
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Because that’s how the last government conditioned everyone to think. Brainwashed the population into thinking that there was a need for overbearing and pointless bureaucracy which finally undermined the volunteer system and made everyone into a child-molesting suspect by default – guilty until proved innocent by CRB.
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Agree with that. You forgot to mention that we’re all suspect terrorists too.
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I tried to introduce this 4 years ago, by trying to take nursery children into a residential home for the elderly, which was right next door to the nursery. This was with the idea that both groups would benefit from the interaction. Ofsted and the local authority, who were the powers that be, felt different. Insisting CRB were carried out,and that the children were supervised on a one to one basis – which meant us doubling up on staff numbers – as the children were taken into the residential home. The residents had an encounter of judging the childrens Easter Bonnets and every child received a prize – yet were were told that there could not be a “winner”. The elderly residents loved the event, as did the children, and they wanted to take photograghs, but again we were told that all photographs had to be deleted.
However, could this be one law for some but when the authorities need to make cutbacks, everything is acceptable for themselves?????
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sounds like a sensible efficiency to me, peopel get so OTT about politically sensitive issue,s this is a good way of balancign cuts with service provision a third way solution which does both
its innovative and efficient, well done i support it
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how will the old and frail sit down on those little chairs they have in primary school even worse how will they get up again?
what about the holidays will the old and frail not have hot meals then?
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good idea
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I agree – just because they are elderly doesn’t make them nice people. I would not want the elderly dining with my child unless they are CRB checked the same as anyone else who has access to school children. If there is a problem with perhaps the cost of CRB checking then why don’t we just ask parents to sign an authority form?
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DEBBIE. As a 70 year old I say to you, don’t insult us old people. The vast majority of old people are not perverts,there must be something wrong if you can not spot obvious one’s. Let your child have a life and don’t wrap him/her in cotton wool,all children will have to grow up in the real world soon enough. Read Rodney Nosnail’s comments, he sets out truthfully whats wrong with society today.
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John, not insulting all old people just merely making the point that all people whether they be old, young, whatever should not be stereo-typed. I mentioned nothing about perverts! As a mum I still have to be CRB checked should I wish to work in a school even voluntarily. Thanks for your concern I should hope that I would be able to spot a pervert although I don’t think all are obvious??, but the issue here is how would the parents have an opportunity since we may never meet these people dining with our children! Do not care for Rodney whoever’s political rantings only for the safety and security of my child like the majority of parents. Thanks for your comments.
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